Irrigating means



y N'. YOUNG ET AL IRRIGATING MEANS Filed May 13. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l NORRIS W. YOUNG DORRIS S. YOUNG INVENTORS A'ITORNE'Y' N. W. YOUNG ET AL May 30, 1944.

IRRIGATING MEANS Filed May 13. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NORRIS W. YOUNG DORRISS YOUNG INVENTORS Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED IRRIGATING MEANS Norris W. Young, Wilsonville, and Dorris S. Young, Newberg, 'Oreg.

Application May 13, 1941, Serial No. 393,280

7 Claims.

This invention relates to sprinkling systems, and, in particular, to sprinkling devices employed on the pipe lines of irrigating systems.

One of the difflculties commonto most water sprinklers is the fact that they spread the water over a substantially circular area, and, as a re-' sult, when a number of such sprinklers are required to be used, the sprinkled areas must either considerably overlap and thus cause portions of the ground to receive an excess of Water resulting in wastage or else permit some of the intervening ground to remain unwatered.

Another objectionable feature found in some sprinklers is that they distribute the water unevently in the area which they are designed to cover, delivering toomuch water in some portions and not suificient water in other portions of the area. I I

The object of this invention is to provide an improved sprinkler head to be used for irrigating systems which will avoid such difiiculties and avoid these objectionable features and which will be simp1e andp-ractical in construction and which may easily be removed for cleaning or for other purposes.

The manner in which we obtain our object and other advantages will be hereinafter explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sprinkler head 7 embodying our invention and shown in place on an irrigation pipe (the irrigation pipe and connection being indicated in broken lines) Figure 2is a sectional side elevation of the same sprinkler head, drawn to a larger scale, and

showing a pressure-equalizing valve within the sprinkler head;

Figure 3 is a similar side elevation, drawn to a smaller scale, but without the pressure-equalizing valve; I I

Figure 4 is a perspective elevation of one of the ring-shaped sections of whichthe sprinkler heads of Figures 1, 2 and 3 are formed;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of the sprinkler head, without the valve, the sprinkler head being drawn on the same scale as Figure 2 and the sections being taken at four elevations corresponding to the four ring-shaped sections of which the sprinkler heads of Figures 1, 2 and 3 are composed;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the peripheral wall of one of the ringshaped sections, illustrating the manner in which the outer peripheral wall is deformed about a discharge opening;, e

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the outside wall of the bottom ring-shaped section, taken on line I-I of Figure 2 and illustrating the shape of the discharge opening of this part of the sprinkler head;

Figure 8 'is a fragmentary enlarged section of the peripheral wall taken on the line 8-8 of Figure '7; and

Figure 9'is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the manner in which each of the four ring-shaped sections of the sprinkler head of Figures 1, 2 and 3, provides for partial distribution of irrigating water in an approximately square plot of ground.

Referring first to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the sprinkler head of our device is formed froma plurality (thus four in the sprinkler illustrated) of annular 0r ring-shaped sections or distributing members .10, II, I2 and I3, which are preferably made to fit one into the other and which are secured together in axial alinement in any suitable manner at their outer peripheries, for example by welding or soldering. Their inner peripheries fit against a cylindrical wall or tube 22.

The shape and structural characteristics of these ring members I0, I I, I2 and I3 are best illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the member shown in Figure 4 being member II or the next to the bottom one in the sprinkler of Figure 2. The outer perimeter of each of these members comprises a pair of cylindrical wall sections I4 and I5 connected by an arcuate annular wall section I6 which is substantially semi-circularin crosssectional contour. Each member is formed with a flat annular bottom I1 terminating at its inner periphery in a downwardly-extending flange I8. The bottoms of members II, I2 and I3 are provided with ports I9, the number of these ports I 9 varying, as apparent from Figure 5, the reason for which will be explained later. There are no ports in the bottom of member II]. To enable the ring members to be nested into a press fit, when secured together, the outside diameter of wall section 15 is made equal to the inside diameter of wall section I4. The arcuate wall section 16 of each member is provided with ports through which the water is discharged in separate streams from the sprinkler head.

The bottom ring member ID is secured to a locking ring 24 and the flange I8 of member I0 is turnedover the inner periphery of the locking ring 24, while the bottom end of the inner tube 22 is turned over the bottom flange I8 as shown in Figure 2, these parts then all being firmly so: cured together.

and a ring gasket 38, of rubber or similar flexible material, is secured on the inside of the cylindrical wall 33 and forms a pressure seal with the flange 31 under the pressure of the water in the base of the sprinkler head. The top of the sprinkler head is formed by a cap 30 having a flange 3I which fits within the cylindri cal wall I4 of the upper ring member I3 and is firmly secured therein in any suitable manner.

' A very important feature of our invention resides in the arrangement and construction of the distributing ports in the ring members of the sprinkler head. In the case of the three upper ring members II, I2 and I3 the ports A are cylindrical, with their axes inclined from the horizontal as shown in Figure 6 To figure adequate range in a stream of water delivered from such a port, we have found that it'is essential that the metal immediately around the inside of the port be in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the port, with the inside edge of the port sharply formed. In order to obtain this condition the metal surrounding each port is fiattened in a small area as indicated at 2I in Figure 6.

The ports in the lowest ring member I I], which function to distribute the water over the ground surface immediately adjacent the sprinkler, we make rectangular in shape, as indicated at in Figure 7. Furthermore, in order that these ports may produce fan-shaped streams of desired dimensions, they are formed, as indicated by Figure 8, by a tapered chisel-edged die which forces the metal inwardly, resulting in a somewhat imperfectly-formededg'e 2I on the inside of the port which modifies the discharge stream passing therethrough. As is'well known, a rectangular port, such as that illustrated will produce a fan-shaped stream in a plane at a right angle to the long axis of the port.

The bottom of the uppermost ring member I3 is formed with a large number of ports I9 (see Figure 5) connecting with the next ring member I2, and the tube 22 (Figure 2) has a plurality of large ports 21 connecting with ring 'mem ber I2, with the result that thejwater pressure is substantially the same in ring members I3 and I 2. The tube'22 has no ports connecting with ring members II and II). The water in ringmemher I I is all obtainedfrom ring member I2, while water in ring member ID, is obtained from ring member II. The bottom of ring'member I2 is provided with only a reduced number of connecting'ports I9,- as indicated in Figure 5, but the bottomof ring member I I has a large number of ports; I As a result of this arrangement of b'ot-' tom ports the water pressure in ring members I I and III will be considerably less than in memhers-I2 and I3. I

Assuming 'that a predetermined desired pressure within the irrigation pipe line is constantly maintained, the method of operation of the sprinkler head may now be described with reference to Figures5 and 9. Since, asmentioned atshown for one-quarter area, respectively. Thus,

in Figure 9, the quarter area 64 shows the distribution of water in that quarter from the corresponding section of ring member I 0 only; quarter 66, from the corresponding portion of ring member II only; quarter 68, from the corresponding portion of ring member I2 only; and quarter I5, from the corresponding portion of top ring member I3.

The rectangularly-shaped ports 20 of bottom ring member ID are all of similar size and equally-spaced, and their arrangement and size, in combination with the water pressure provided within ring member III, are such that they produce sprinkling coverage indicated by the broken line areas in quarter 64 of Figure 9.

In ring member II the distributing ports are round, are all of the same size, and are equally spaced. The size of these ports is such that they will produce a sprinkling coverage in each quarter corresponding to the broken line areas 61. It will be noted that the range of the streams from these ports cover an area just beyond'that covered by the streams from the ports 20 of ring member II], this being caused entirely by the difference in the size and shape of the ports of the two ring members since the pressure within these two ring members is substantially the same.

In ring member I2 the discharging ports are three sizes. There are four groups of five ports each, indicated by the reference character 69 in Figure 5, which are all of the 'same size and which are spaced symmetrically around the perimeter of the ring member I2. These ports distribute water over spaces indicated by the broken line areas I9 in Figure 9. The ring member I2 also has four othergroups of five ports each, these ports being shown at I3 and 1| in Figure 5. In this second series of groups the ports are not all of the same size, but the middle ports II are smaller than the two ports I3 on either side. As a result, each of the four ports 'II covers an area indicated at I2 in Figure 9, while the neighboring ports I3 cover areas indicated at I4 which extend a longer distance from the sprinkler head. In the top ring member I3there are four groups of three ports each. The center port I6 in each of these groups is larger than any of the others in either ring member I2 01' ring member I3, and is adapted to cover the broken line area 11. The other 'two' ports I8 in each of these groups are adapted to cover areas at slightly less range, these areas being indicated at I9 in Figure 9.

By imagining the four quarters of Figure 9 superimposed one above the other, the manner'in which the entire surface in each quarter of an approximately square area of ground will be covered by the-sprinkler head can be visualized.

In the description thus far it has been assumed that a constant pressure is maintained in the irrigation pipe line, and thus that constant pre determined pressures are present in the ring members of the sprinkler head, causing their ports to distribute the water over 'predetermined areas. However, if in the irrigation system it is impossible to maintain a constant desired pressure throughout the entire length of the pipe line, a suitable pressure-equalizing valve may be inserted within the sprinkler head and used in conjunction with the sprinkler head. Such a valve member is shown in Fig. 2, which valve has inlet ports 44 in communication with the source of supply from pipe 34 and outlet ports (not shown) which communicate with the chamber within tube 22.

A removable screen 39, preferably conforming in general to the semi-spherical shape of the sprinkler base 32, is inserted in the sprinkler as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and a second removable screen 29, preferably cylindrical in shape, is inserted in the tubular member 22. To prevent any possible deforming of the screen 29 and also in order to retain the screen 29 in place when the pressure-equalizing valve is not used on the sprinkler head, the tube 22 is provided with a plurality of inwardly-deformed segments 28 (Figure 3) which are adapted to bear slightly against the outside surface of the cylindrical screen 29.

Although our sprinkler head has been illustrated and described as composed of four ring members, arranged in the manner specified, it would be possible to provide more or less than this number. In some instances we have found that three ring members can be made to suflice. For general use, however, we consider the construction of the sprinkler head as illustrated in the drawings to be the most serviceable and practical. It would also of course be possible to make other modifications in the construction of the sprinkler head without departing from the principle of our invention, and it is not our intention to limit our invention otherwise than as set forth in the attached claims.

We claim:

1. In a sprinkler of the character described, a plurality of similar ring-shaped sections, said sections arranged one above the other about a central chamber, means for delivering water under pressure into the bottom of said chamber, said chamber discharging directly into an upper ring section, ports connecting adjacent ring. sections whereby water will pass downwardly through said sections successively, said ports and sections so arranged that the pressures in said sections will be decreased successively, each of said sections having a plurality of discharge outlets, said outlets being of various size depending upon the pressure to be maintained in the particular ring section and upon the particular area to be serviced by the stream from the outlet, and the whole so arranged that the streams from said outlets will not interfere with each other but will each cover a predetermined ground surface area.

2. In a sprinkler, a plurality of ring-shaped sections, said sections arranged one above the other, a central tube-shaped inner member, said ring sections fitting against the outside of said member, said member discharging into an upper ring section, ports connecting said upper ring section with a lower ring section permitting watel to enter said lower section from said upper section but maintaining a higher pressure in said upper than in said lower section, each of said sections having a plurality of discharge outlets, said outlets in said upper ring section adapted to cause streams to be projected therefrom at an inclined angle, said outlets being of various size depending upon the pressure to be maintained in the particular ring section and upon the particular area to be serviced by the stream from the outlet, and the whole so arranged that the streams from said outlets will not interfere with each other but will each cover a predetermined ground surface area.

3. In a sprinkler, a plurality of ring-shaped sections, said sections arranged one above the other about a central chamber, each section having an outer peripheral wall which is arcuate in vertical cross-section, means for delivering water under pressure into the bottom of said central chamber, said chamber discharging directly into an upper ring section, ports connecting adjacent ring sections whereby water will pass downwardly through said sections successively, said ports so arranged that the pressures in said sections will be decreased successively, each of said sections having a plurality of discharge outlets in its outer peripheral wall, said outlets being of various size depending upon the pressure to be maintained in the particular ring section and upon the particular area to be serviced by the stream from the outlet, and the whole so arranged that the streams from said outlets will not interfere with each other but will each cover a predetermined ground surface area and the streams from said outlets will be of decreased length successively downwardly, a base for said sprinkler, said base adapted to be attached to a pipe line, means for coupling said sprinkler to said base.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 with said peripheral walls of said sections being deformed about said discharge outlets to cause the inside surface of the wall portion surrounding each outlet to lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the outlet, whereby to enable the range of the streams from said outlets to be predetermined more definitely.

5. In a sprinkler of the character described, a plurality of separate sections arranged one above the other, a passageway extending upwardly through said sprinkler, said passageway terminating in the uppermost of said sections, means for delivering water under pressure to the bottom of said passageway and thereby into the uppermost of said sections and thence through re- .stricted ports to the lower sections successively in such manner that the water pressure in one section will be greater than the pressure in a lower section, each of said sections having a plurality of discharge outlets, said outlets so positioned and made of such size, with respect to the pressures in said sections, that the streams from said outlets will not interfere with each other but the streams from the outlets of one section will be projected further than the streams from the outlets of a lower section and each stream will cover a predetermined ground surface area, the topmost outlets of said sprinkler made of such size as to throw the longest streams and to project water into the corner portions of an approximately square ground surface area, whereby said sprinkler will function to distribute water over a square area.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 with the addition of a removable screen within said tube-shaped inner member.

7. The combination set forth in claim 3 with said sprinkler removably coupled to said base and with a removable screen located in said base.

NORRIS W. YOUNG. DORRIS S. YOUNG- 

